DU ends partnership with prep school
Daniel Connor
Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: News
Last update: 2/4/10 at 2:30 AM EST
Last month, Duquesne University announced that it plans to end a 15-year partnership with the local college preparatory school Vincentian Academy on June 30, 2010.
The academy, which was founded in 1932, entered into a partnership with Duquesne in 1995. During the partnership, Duquesne assisted Vincentian with administrative tasks, helped them establish a president and helped them create an International Baccalaureate curriculum.
"[The goal was] to take a school and help it transform to an academic aggressive and solid university," said Victor Boerio, the assistant principal at Vincentian and a Duquesne alumnus.
Officials from Vincentian and Duquesne said they have reached this goal.
"[Vincentian] didn't need us anymore," said Ralph Pearson, Duquesne's provost and vice president of academics. "[Vincentian] has a very positive growth trajectory."
Vincentian maintains a 100-percent college acceptance rate for their students. In 2008, students received approximately $5.6 million in scholarships to colleges, according to the academy's strategic plan.
Starting in July, the Christian organization Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, which currently owns the academy, will resume full responsibility for the academy's operation.
In the past, Vincentian Academy students who were accepted to Duquesne received a 25-percent tuition discount. Students currently enrolled at Vincentian will receive that discount, University Spokeswoman Bridget Fare said, but students entering Vincentian after this year will receive the standard 10-percent discount Duquesne offers local Catholic high school graduates.
Vincentian employees who have children or spouses currently enrolled at Duquesne will continue to receive full tuition remission until the students finish their programs.
Some Duquesne faculty voiced opposition to the partnership's end.
In an e-mail sent to faculty members last week, Faculty Senate President Paula Witt-Enderby said the assembly "disagrees with both the process and decision to make changes in Duquesne's tuition remission policy for Vincentian Academy without faculty discussion."
Witt-Enderby declined to comment for this story.
Fare said Duquesne's decision to end the partnership was not spurred by financial hardships, and the University is projecting a budget surplus. She added that she has not had any additional communication with the Faculty Senate but welcomes their input.
"The administration hears and respects the rights of the Faculty Senate to voice their opinions on this matter and any others," Fare said.
The end of the partnership does not represent an end to the relationship between Duquesne and Vincentian Academy, Fare said.
Students will still have access to Duquesne's science labs and the Gumberg Library. Vincentian also will continue to use Duquesne's campus in the summer as a part of its freshman orientation program.
The academy, which was founded in 1932, entered into a partnership with Duquesne in 1995. During the partnership, Duquesne assisted Vincentian with administrative tasks, helped them establish a president and helped them create an International Baccalaureate curriculum.
"[The goal was] to take a school and help it transform to an academic aggressive and solid university," said Victor Boerio, the assistant principal at Vincentian and a Duquesne alumnus.
Officials from Vincentian and Duquesne said they have reached this goal.
"[Vincentian] didn't need us anymore," said Ralph Pearson, Duquesne's provost and vice president of academics. "[Vincentian] has a very positive growth trajectory."
Vincentian maintains a 100-percent college acceptance rate for their students. In 2008, students received approximately $5.6 million in scholarships to colleges, according to the academy's strategic plan.
Starting in July, the Christian organization Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, which currently owns the academy, will resume full responsibility for the academy's operation.
In the past, Vincentian Academy students who were accepted to Duquesne received a 25-percent tuition discount. Students currently enrolled at Vincentian will receive that discount, University Spokeswoman Bridget Fare said, but students entering Vincentian after this year will receive the standard 10-percent discount Duquesne offers local Catholic high school graduates.
Vincentian employees who have children or spouses currently enrolled at Duquesne will continue to receive full tuition remission until the students finish their programs.
Some Duquesne faculty voiced opposition to the partnership's end.
In an e-mail sent to faculty members last week, Faculty Senate President Paula Witt-Enderby said the assembly "disagrees with both the process and decision to make changes in Duquesne's tuition remission policy for Vincentian Academy without faculty discussion."
Witt-Enderby declined to comment for this story.
Fare said Duquesne's decision to end the partnership was not spurred by financial hardships, and the University is projecting a budget surplus. She added that she has not had any additional communication with the Faculty Senate but welcomes their input.
"The administration hears and respects the rights of the Faculty Senate to voice their opinions on this matter and any others," Fare said.
The end of the partnership does not represent an end to the relationship between Duquesne and Vincentian Academy, Fare said.
Students will still have access to Duquesne's science labs and the Gumberg Library. Vincentian also will continue to use Duquesne's campus in the summer as a part of its freshman orientation program.
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